The ex-manager netted an international double worth a total of around £500,000 in prize money on Friday

Sir Alex Ferguson has often seemed to lead a charmed existence on the turf since his retirement from football management and he enjoyed another memorable afternoon on Friday with an international double worth a total of around £500,000 in prize money in the space of just 70 minutes.

First, the novice hurdler Potters Charm carried the former Manchester United manager’s colours to a decisive victory in a Grade Two novice hurdle at Cheltenham’s prestigious November meeting. Ferguson himself, though, was in Bahrain to see his seven-year-old gelding, Spirit Dancer, take the $1m Bahrain International Trophy, with a first prize of £472,441, for the second year running.